Bimetallic and cationic aluminum with N3O2 chelate ligands

The ligands aminobis(N-ethylenesalicylidenimine) (SalenN3H3) and aminobis(N-propylenesalicylidenimine) (SalpenN3H3) were used to form the bimetallic complexes SalenN3H{AlMe2}2 (1), SalpenN3H{AlMe2}2 (2), SalenN3H{AlMeCl}2 (3) and SalpenN3H{AlMeCl} (4). When extracted in THF 3 and 4 redistribute to form the ionic compounds [SalenN3H{Al(THF)}]+ [AlMe2Cl2]− (5) and [SalpenN3H{Al(THF)}]+ [AlMe2Cl2]− (6). The compounds were characterized by Mp analyses, 1H-NMR and IR, and in the case of 2 and 6 by X-ray crystallography. Additionally, the potential of 5 and 6 to serve as propylene oxide polymerization catalysts was examined.